Hosting Linux Windows

Which type of hosting server is right for you? Windows or Linux, this is probibly one of the most asked questions when it comes to web site hosting. I have hosted websites with both windows and linux and today prefer linux. It really depends on what type of applications and website scripts (if any) you are planning on using. Below you will find some information on hosting your site on either a windows server or a linux server.

• Hostgator.com For Windows & Liniux Hosting Review
For $4.95 per month, you can enjoy 350 gigs disk space and 3000 gigs of bandwidth on either a Linux or Windows operating system.  Definitely one of the better choices when it comes to quality web hosting for a cheap price.

• HostRocket.com Linux Web Site Hosting Review
Linux based hosting company with unlimited bandwidth and unspecified disk storage and domain names for $4.95 per month with 2 year contract, but doesn’t work with Windows.

• LunarPages.com Hosting Review For Windows OR Linux Servers

Many web hosting providers now offer cheap options when it comes to hosting Linux, Windows or Unix as a platform for your website.  While Linux and Unix are fairly similar and considered free domain to anyone who wants to use them, Windows comes with the cost of licensing agreements and the Windows software that goes with it costs extra as well.  There are other differences, but deciding which operating system to use is much easier if you understand them, how they work and what features web hosting companies can offer you once you make a decision.

As an operating system, Unix has been around for the longest.   In fact, it became the foundation of the Internet, and is also the most stable operating system of the three. The security of Unix is as strong as Linux and more secure than Windows.  The limitations with Unix, however, are that most variations of Unix were designed only to run on certain hardware platforms and there aren’t as many enhancements available for it.

Linux, built around the Unix framework, is the operating system that many hosting companies choose because of its flexibility and reliability.  It is based on the same architecture as Unix and it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance.  This is because it is continually worked on by developers worldwide under the General Public License. There are many distributions available, most of which can be downloaded from the Internet at no charge.  Linux is commonly used together with PHP, Apache and MySQL to create a strong security configuration for websites that take credit card numbers and other valuable information.

Not content to have so many freebies floating around, Microsoft created their own web server software that only runs in Windows.  Named Internet Information Server, This software allows people to create web pages using its own ASP software as well as the standardized web languages like Perl. MS Access and SQL Server are very easy to maneuver using IIS and ASP.  The only problem is that if you build your website in Windows, the files can’t be transferred into Linux or Unix.  Because companies like Hostgator.com and Godaddy.com both run on Linux and Windows, they may be able to help you transfer data if you decide to change operating systems.  However, if you are really set on Windows, you may not be able to switch to a hosting company like Hostrocket.com, which only runs on Linux.